When a cat begins to show aggression towards people and other animals, this often causes an inappropriate reaction from the owners. Often they can completely ignore the problem, or they can use physical force on the pet. And both reactions described are harmful and dangerous!
If your cat has bitten or scratched you or someone else, you need to find out why it happened. Aggression is a problem that many cat owners have to deal with. Understanding why your cat has become aggressive is the first step in eliminating the problem.
There are several possible reasons why cats may attack a person, cat or other animal:
- a sense of emanating threat - including redirected aggression and aggression due to intrusion into territory that the pet considers to be its own;
- pain or discomfort from touch;
- rudeness during games.
Let's take a closer look at a cat's motivation when it scratches, bites, or otherwise becomes aggressive, and what you need to do to stop it.
Who do cats attack (and how does it happen)
Before we analyze the motives for aggression in cats, let's look at whom it will most often be directed at. As a rule, cats show aggression against humans or other pets.
Why do cats attack people?
When a cat bites or scratches a person, it is important to share the aggression against the cat's owner, a family member, or a complete stranger.
If you are bitten by a cat, do not delay treating the wound with an antiseptic. If it was not a domestic purr, then you must see a doctor. We will explain what cat bites can mean in one of the following articles.
- An attack on an owner or family member may be caused by pain or redirected aggression. If you were bitten by your own cat, who has never been non-aggressive, it is very possible that you touched the sore spot (for example, while playing with your pet). It could also be some kind of benign formation (albeit often painful!), such as a tangle of hair or an undiagnosed abscess.
- An attack by a pet on a complete stranger should cause more concern. Even cats that are afraid of strangers tend to stay away from them rather than attack them. If the cat attacked, you need to understand what was the immediate cause. More often than not, the situation developed in such a way that the cat was somehow cornered and perhaps captured by a stranger against its will. This can cause panic and aggression in the cat.
You should also consider the age of the person who was attacked by the cat. Typically, cats bite or scratch small children who have been rough with their purrs (for example, during play). In other rare cases, cats attack people of a certain gender. If your cat only attacks men, it may be that she has a history of being abused or traumatized by men.
Why do cats attack other cats or pets?
Another possible victim of your pet's attack is often another family cat or pet, such as a dog.
However, attacks on small pets such as rabbits, hamsters, birds or reptiles are especially problematic for owners, as in most cases they are associated with the cat's hunting instincts . If your cat tries to attack such a pet, consider keeping them separate from each other, or even better, in separate rooms altogether.
When another cat or dog is in the position of being the victim of aggression, the first step is to understand how well both animals know each other. If they have just been “introduced” to each other, you are likely dealing with territorial aggression, which can be very serious. In this case, it is best to separate the animals, and then begin the gradual process of getting to know each other, which we will describe in detail in the next article.
If the attack was on an animal that lived peacefully with the cat for a long time, then the reason is not related to territorial aggression. Most likely this is aggression caused by stress , and possibly physical pain. Your cat may be sick or afraid of something else and take out its stress on other pets in the home.
Methods of influencing aggressive kittens
The younger the animal is, the easier it is to socialize it. Therefore, there is always less hassle with a kitten than with adults of either sex. If possible, you should try to find out if the pet’s parents have similar character traits. Hereditary ones are more difficult to correct, but with proper upbringing you can achieve a lot.
The younger the animal is, the easier it is to socialize it.
The main principle of interaction with a kitten is conflict-free communication. It is necessary to take into account the desires of the animal and, if it wants, for example, to sleep or be alone, there is no need to force affection and games on it. This will not achieve mutual understanding. On the contrary, the kitten will begin to distrust and fear the owner. The consequences will only be negative. It is necessary to find out what causes the kitten’s aggression and eliminate this factor.
Motives for the attacks
Let's take a closer look at why cats attack. We mentioned this briefly earlier, but now it's time to take a closer look at the possible reasons why a cat might attack someone else, feline or human.
Attacks caused by fears
This is perhaps the most common cause of the most “vicious” cat attacks.
There is one pattern in the behavior of cats - when they feel threatened, they respond with aggression. How strong this aggression will be directly depends on the severity of the perceived threat. Notice the word "perceived". It doesn't matter whether the threat is real or not. What matters is that the cat considers it a real threat to itself!
Veterinarians are often victims of attacks caused by cat fears. The cat doesn't understand that the man in the white coat should help her. From her point of view, she is in an alien and potentially hostile environment. And this man, whom he remembers from previous equally terrible visits, is trying to grab him. No wonder the cat will do everything in her power to save herself!
Redirected aggression
Redirected aggression is also fear-induced aggression, with one significant difference: in this case, the fearful cat lashes out at someone other than the source of the perceived threat.
You can think of it this way: Let's go back to the situation at the veterinarian's office. The cat is afraid of the veterinarian and the procedures at the clinic, but eventually attacks his loving owner when he tries to pet him.
This does not mean that the cat is afraid and does not trust its owner. Simply, in a state of extreme anxiety and panic, the cat attacks any hand that reaches out to him at that moment - regardless of whether he is afraid of this particular person or not. We will describe examples of redirected aggression and ways to combat it in one of the following articles.
Territorial aggression
Cats are territorial animals. If they see someone else's cat or other pet on their property, they feel threatened. Again, it doesn't matter whether the threat is real. It could even be a tiny, harmless kitten or puppy.
As soon as fear or panic “covers” the purr, it will either run away or fight for its territory. And if she chooses the latter, then you will witness territorial aggression.
As mentioned above, the solution to this problem is to properly introduce the cat to the new pet. Never bring home a new cat and just place him in the middle of the room. This is bad for both cats and their future relationship. Follow the instructions described in our article on introducing animals to each other.
Attacks caused by pain or anxiety
The cause of aggression can be real pain, which forces the kitty to attack in order to stop the pain. A common scenario might be: a cat has a sore spot on her body. For example, this could be a localized infection, suppuration, etc. During grooming or simply caressing, the owner unconsciously touches this place, after which the pussy instinctively snaps, sinking its teeth deep into the hand that touched the painful point.
It is also worth mentioning that pain and discomfort in any place can spoil the kitty’s mood and make it more gloomy, which will also contribute to the fact that it decides to bite its beloved owner. Remember, pain does not occur on its own, it is usually caused by a disease, which in turn does not go away on its own, so when you notice that something is bothering your cat, be sure to visit a veterinarian.
Attack after caress
Experienced cat owners may be familiar with this phenomenon. There are situations when a cat asks to pet itself, pokes its head at the owner and rolls over on its back to attract your attention. While stroking, she purrs and closes her eyes. And then after a few minutes this same cat turns into an irritated hissing creature that viciously bites you and runs away.
What happened in this situation?
Some cats simply don't like prolonged petting . At the same time, they enjoy communication with the owner and often ask for it, but if it lasts too long, they experience discomfort. Although no actual pain was the cause of the purr's aggression, an irritated cat can lash out just as aggressively after a petting session as a cat in physical pain.
Foul play
Finally, the last one is “game attacks”, or in other words, rudeness during games. This is usually the reason why kittens bite and scratch their owners - or other pets around them. And these play attacks can be painful at times.
It is important to understand for yourself and to let the cat know that this is just a game. You don't want to encourage your kitten to attack you, and there are ways to help him channel that simmering energy elsewhere.
The key to solving this problem is to provide your kitten with plenty of stimulation to play and get out his energy, such as fun toys and interactive games. This will force him to release his teeth and claws into the toy, and not into your hands.
Aggression towards other animals (cats and dogs)
A striking example is the aggression of a mother cat when danger appears for her kittens. Such cat “negativity” can manifest itself both towards people and animals. Therefore, it is better not to disturb the mother cat and her offspring again. The place where she is with the kittens must be safe so that the cat is calm and that her babies are not in danger.
Enmity between two or more cats can also turn into aggression. They can fight for territory or simply “find out” which of them is stronger by meeting in open territory. Aggressive relationships arise between animals if one of them was recently brought into the house, and the other has been living in it for a long time, and even if the cats have been living in the same territory for a long time, then something can provoke their mutual aggression.
Sometimes a cat attacks and bites, reacting to a stimulus it sees and hears, to which it does not have access, so it takes out its feelings on those it can reach - household members or animals, even if they have done absolutely nothing to it. This is especially common in cats of oriental breeds. This phenomenon is called redirected aggression. At the same time, it may seem that the cat begins to fight for no reason at all. At the same time, the animal can remain so “reactive” for quite a long time.
Cats often share a home with other pets, including those of the same species. And each of them may have their own reasons for “evicting” their opponent. In a cat, territorial type aggression can be directed towards various living objects - people, other animals, regardless of their species. But most often these are other cats. In this regard, it is dangerous to keep two sexually mature males in an apartment, as life will turn into a complete nightmare.
And even if the animals previously tolerated each other completely normally, but at some point one of them returned, for example, from the veterinarian, carrying a lot of unfamiliar (and even somewhat scary) odors, then the pet, staying at home at this time, unexpected aggression may arise. Since representatives of the feline family recognize members of their pride by their smell, if the absent animal comes back and smells different from everyone else, then it may be mistaken for a stranger. Much the same thing happens when one of the owners, who has been absent for a long time, returns home, then at first the cats may not accept him and behave aggressively.
The role of character: why some cats attack more often
Now that we've looked at the main reasons cats attack, it's worth noting that a lot depends on the cat's personality.
Some cats are more likely to attack people, pets, or both. These cats tend to be tense and afraid of a lot of things deep down. However, instead of hiding—like shy cats do—they tend to bite or scratch people and pets around them.
Other cats are particularly relaxed and calm. These cats almost never attack anyone - even when faced with a new cat in their home or another stressful situation. These are cats that make excellent furry therapists, able to cope with stress in new places and situations while always remaining friendly.
Most cats are somewhere in the middle. They are not usually aggressive, but will lash out if threatened.
In what cases is a visit to the veterinarian required?
If sudden attacks, during which the cat scratches and bites, last for several days, it is necessary to limit contact with the pet and consult a specialist. Aggressive cats and cats become a real threat to the health of owners, residents and guests of the house.
Unexplained changes in cat behavior are most often a symptom of illness. Early diagnosis will help keep your pet healthy and protect others. If aggressive behavior is due to mental disorders, the veterinarian will prescribe a course of drug support that helps relieve stress.
So what should you do when your cat is aggressive?
Now that you know the possible causes of cat aggression, you can respond to it more effectively. A mischievous kitten who scratches people's ankles should be handled differently than a cat who viciously attacked someone because she simply noticed a strange animal in her territory and came to her defense too zealously.
But there is one rule that is true in any situation:
Don't punish your cat!
Yes, being scratched or bitten is not pleasant. Sometimes it's very unpleasant. And when it happens unexpectedly, it's scary. However, you should make an effort not to yell or otherwise punish or frighten your cat after an attack. In many cases, this will only trigger the fear-aggression cycle.
Useful tips
Solving problems associated with aggression takes a long time, so you will have to be patient. Experts recommend following several recommendations to avoid negative consequences.
- If the animal is about to attack, you can neutralize the threat in a simple and safe way - throw a blanket or blanket over it, wrap it in it and take it to another room, leaving it there for a while.
- You can spray the animal with water from a water pistol: this is an effective, safe measure that helps to quickly neutralize an attack of rage.
- When faced with aggression, the owner must remain calm, continue to talk kindly to the pet, and not make sudden movements.
Often, in order to correct the situation, you need to change your behavior too. The owner will have to show enough wisdom and patience to help his pet.
Rabies
Although we mentioned in this article that the reasons for a cat attack can be fear or pain, it is worth looking at another reason for aggression: rabies.
Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted from one animal to another. Once the virus reaches the brain, it begins to affect behavior. In many cases, one of the changes is increased aggressiveness.
In order to protect yourself and your animal from this pathology, do not forget about vaccinating your pets, and also do not let your purrs walk on the street, where they can be bitten by a rabid animal.
If you notice that an unvaccinated cat that has free access to the outdoors or is in contact with animals that walk outside becomes very aggressive for no apparent reason, contact your veterinarian immediately!
How to distinguish anger from aggression
True aggression is always a spontaneous reaction, the reasons for which are many. It is not possible for a person to predict what exactly a pet may not like and cause a negative reaction in him. Aggression does not appear all the time and is always justified. Most often it is observed in temperamental animals, intelligent and with developed intuition. This must be taken into account when deciding how to stop a cat from biting.
True aggression is always a spontaneous reaction
If an adult cat is taken into the house, its increased aggressiveness is most often a manifestation of a defensive reaction. In this way, the animal sought to protect itself earlier, being in street conditions. It is more difficult to socialize an animal that has been homeless, but nothing is impossible for a loving owner.
Animals taken from the shelter also do not make contact with humans for a long time and treat them with caution. Many owners of such cats report that their pets began to trust them only after a year or more.
Two types of aggression should be distinguished:
- reaction to an external stimulus;
- abnormal, caused by organic brain damage.
In the first case, there is every chance to independently minimize and eliminate the manifestation of negativity; in the second, the help of a specialist is required.
